Posted on October 13, 2020 by KylieMawdsley
What are the WHITEST white paint colours in the TOP BRANDS? Let’s find out!
When it comes to picking the BEST white paint colour, it’s easy to take a wrong turn into the wrong undertones. And while I’ve covered MANY versions of white (including the kind that fills my glass on a nightly basis), today we’re going to chat about the WHITEST white paint colours!
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while (thank you for drinking the Ginger-flavoured Kool-aid), you’ll know that LRV matters.
WHAT IS LRV?
If you don’t know, you get three slaps with a wet noodle and need to read this blog post ASAP – it’s also good for those needing a refresher!
And speaking of a refresher, I’m also going to titillate you with WINE pairings, sharing some of my faves whites to pair with my fave whites (from our own BC Wineries!)
The WHITEST white paint colours will have the highest LRV numbers. And while LRV goes up to 100, in the ‘real person paint world’, we’re only going up to 94, as we’re not slapping scientific white on our walls (it’s not available and only shows up on my bum cheeks in the dead of winter – yes, Mom, I said that).
The WHITEST white paint colours will have the highest LRV numbers
Sherwin Williams Pure White
It’s also important to not judge a colour by its name. For example, Sherwin Williams has a GORGEOUS white called Pure White (one of my faves), but let me tell you – it ain’t ‘pure white’.
AND LASTLY, after reading this list, PLEASE keep reading, as I have some IMPORTANT NOTES for you to consider BEFORE you start sampling white paint colours!
The WHITEST White Paint Colours
1. BEHR ULTRA PURE WHITE PR-W15 LRV 94.4
Wine pairing: Wild Goose Autumn Gold
Ultra Pure White is THE whitest white paint colour on the market. And even though I’m in long-term relationships with Ben and Sherm, sometimes I refer to this WHITEST white paint colour as the best shade for a project.
And don’t ask me why Behr has four different Ultra Pure Whites (I’ve sent an email asking) – seems like a great way to complicate things if you ask me. Stick with PR-W15 until I learn otherwise.
Why doesn’t EVERY brand have a white that’s THIS WHITE?
Good question – you get a gold star! Different brands use different BASES to create their paint, and not all white bases were created equally. This is why every brand has a different ‘white’ and it’s not the same right across the board (it’s also why you should NEVER colour match between brands).
Behr’s Best White & Soft-White Paint Colours
2. KELLY MOORE WHITEST WHITE KMW43-1 LRV 94.62
Wine pairing: Three Sisters Winery Chardonnay
You’d think that with an LRV of 94.62, Whitest White would be in the number one spot, and it SHOULD be (technically). But what I’m talking about are the WHITEST whites, and even though its LRV is a weeee willy wink higher, I find that Behr Ultra Pure White looks a touch cleaner. This could simply be because Behrs ‘white base’ is a cleaner white – but really, either will do the trick.
Should I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS HIGH REFLECTIVE WHITE SW 7757 LRV 93
Wine pairing: Lunessence Quartet
Sherwin Williams High Reflective White is a white I refer to ALL THE TIME in my Online Paint Colour Consulting. With its LRV of 93, it’s pretty dang white. It looks SLIGHTLY warm in comparison to Ultra Pure White, but remember, that’s just ‘in comparison’ as High Reflective White can also look a bit stark and cool compared to a warmer white!
High Reflective White is WHITER looking than Chantilly Lace (#4), but NOT quite as white as Ultra Pure White. Compare the two and you WILL see that shift, with HRW looking a wink softer (but again, it’s really a pretty legit white white).
HOWEVER, High Reflective White isn’t easy to get at every Sherwin William’s store – you have a 50/50 shot. If you want to learn more about HOW to get it, READ THIS.
4. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC-65 LRV 92.2
Wine pairing: Quails Gate Pinot Gris-Pinot Blanc
A lot of people think that Benjamin Moore SUPER White OC-152 is the whitest white, but again, don’t judge a colour by its name as it has an LRV of 89.09! According to Benjamin Moore, their most WHITE white paint colour is Chantilly Lace, with its LRV of 92.2, ALTHOUGH, they’ve recently adjusted this to 90 and I’m not sure why.
And while it looks like a pretty DARN WHITE WHITE, it can come off just a WINK warm/soft in comparison to Behr Ultra Pure White (but really, it’s a gorgeous white and one I refer to ALL THE TIME when I don’t want a totally stark white).
Chantilly Lace – third down
BTW, people are OFTEN fooled by Benjamin Moore Simply White, as it can look quite white (LRV of 92). HOWEVER, it has a pop of yellow undertone, so be careful where you put it.
Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
- they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
- If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
5. FARROW & BALL ALL WHITE 2005 LRV 91.8
Wine pairing: Three Sisters Rose
With an LRV of 91.8, All White will look white but can come off a bit softer than the others with its slightly lower LRV. While I find that ‘generally speaking’ the first four colours all do a very similar job, All White is just a bit noticeably softer.
White Paint Colours & Exposure
I’m not talking FULL-exposure (which is one of my fave past-times) but the type of exposure that’s coming in your windows – north, east, south, west.
The quality and colour of the natural light coming in your windows will ABSOLUTELY shift how white paint colours look. This has a lot to do with their HIGH LRV, as with that high LRV (light reflectance value) they REFLECT more light!
- north-facing light – cool gray light with a blue tinge (read more)
- east-facing light – slightly warm, yellow light (read more)
- south-facing light – yellow-orange (but white at the height of day) (read more)
- west-facing light – yellow-orange, going even more golden at the end of the day (read more)
This means if you pick one of the above whites but think it looks a bit blue/yellow/etc…it’s not the paint colour ITSELF, but the light that it’s reflecting. This can ALSO happen if you have a lot of greenery outside, such as trees, landscaping and grass – nature of the beast!
So, there you have it. If you want more reading, I have TONS of blog posts on the best white paint colours, so check out the links below!
READ MORE
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Colour is the Best?
The Ultimate Guide To Choosing White Paint Colours
How to Pick a Colour for a Room with 2 Exposures
Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colours
SHOULD I Paint My Cabinets White or Leave Them Wood Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 3 Whites I Would Never Paint my Trim or Cabinets
How to Pick the Best White Paint Colours for Cabinets and Trim
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Great article. So under Chantilly Lace you have four
Color samples posted. Can you share what they are please?
Thanks!
Lisa
Ps. i have the same red shirt you have in the picture below it!
I love a great red!
Author
Hi Lisa, thank you! What you’re looking at there are SW High Reflective White, BM Super White, BM Chantilly Lace and then BM Decorators White :). And yes, I love a great red shirt too!
Great article. So under Chantilly Lace you have four
Color samples posted. Can you share what they are please?
Thanks!
Lisa
Ps. i have the same red shirt you have in the picture below it!
I love a great red!
We just painted the living room, dining nook, and halls Behr’s Ultra Pure White, and it looks beautiful. We have a straight on eastern exposure. The white stays white looking all day.
Author
That’s what I love to hear, thank you!
Forget this High Reflective White nonsense – it’s WAY not worth the trouble. Go with the Behr Ultra Pure,. It’s my clean white trim with my SW 7570 Egret White walls, a MODERN off-ish white with mauve/taupe undertone – a surprisingly low LRV 70 that works with my flooring and wall tile. Definitely not a greige – which I’m sick of already! I wanted WHITE walls but my rooms were too dark for the higher LRV and the low 70’s was just perfect so that the paint didn’t look like primer!
hi happy girl, I noticed your bookshelf in your latest white videos. they were great videos! I wondered if the rage over “The home Edit” had made it up there. I’m in Nashville TN. they arrange books by color, ROYBGIV red, orange, yellow, blue, etc. they have a show on Netflix if you want to see it, they do amazing KITCHEN OR BATHROON OR CLOSET ORGANIZATION and it very colorfully. have a happy day.
As usual, so well researched! You ARE the color goddess. One note from a Sherwin alum on High Reflective- If you’re going to use it you really have to add some white tint to it. They created that base mostly in order to achieve the kind of luminescence needed when matching some competitor colors aka Ben Moore. There aren’t actually many SW colors that require this base (which is why the stores don’t stock a lot). That being said, lots of contractors will tell you it doesn’t cover well on its own. Adding tint takes care of that. I’m with you on Pure White, that and BM White Dove are my all time faves for clean but pretty, soft whites.
Author
Thank you Lori! Yup, I threw that note in about the 4 shots of white as you’re right, it can make a big difference! But regardless, Pure White and White Dove are still my long-time loves ;).
We painted our partly-open space with Chantilly Lace (Walls, trim, vaulted popcorn 😩 ceiling) and love it — it makes the space feel fresh and bright but not cold, perhaps because we have both east and west exposures.
Author
Funny enough, rooms with east-west light are my FAVOURITE rooms just because they get that nice balance of light!
Great post! My bedroom does not have a lot of light and I painted the wall behind the bed SW Iron Ore, it looks great..
I am thinking about a white on the other 3, any input on whites that look nice with Iron Ore.. Thanks!
Hi Kylie!
You offer so much helpful information about paint colors!
My question is about painting cabinets white in a kitchen with northern exposure and white appliances. I painted my cabinets a warm white (with taupe undertones, I think) and of course it doesn’t work with the bright white appliances. The kitchen is in the middle of my home and always seems pretty dark, even though some light comes in from the family room to the east in the morning, and from the west-facing living room in the afternoon. Should I just ignore the northern exposure and go for a white white like Chantilly Lace on the cabinets? Or maybe Simply White? One counter is butcher block and one is Formica with some white in it. Thank you.
Author
Hi Judy! I have NO problem painting a kitchen like this white as it will make the space seem that bit brighter and the flow will be smooth from appliances to cabinets! Yes, Check out Chantilly Lace as well as SW High Reflective White. There are COOLER whites that can jibe with appliances as well…but they can be pretty cool (ie: SW Extra White). I would sample the other 2 first and see how they feel :).
Thank you for decoding the “real “white, from simply, to ultra and finally to all white. Very informative, explicit and even pleasant to read.
Author
You’re most welcome Hortense, thank you for commenting!
Thank you for sharing this….. almost every article I’ve accessed, even tho stating the best white wall paint colors, only offer suggestions for Ben Moore and Sher Williams….. really, these articles are just ads for those paint companies. So, I was so grateful when I found this unbiased article. Indeed, it will be Behr Ultra Pure White for my hall which is as halls usu. are dark and I want to brighten it up as much as possible. Thank you.
Author
Jeanie, what a great comment to get, thank you! Sadly, I don’t get paid by any paint company, so I pay myself in wine and Doritos ;). But, it does mean that my content is pretty darn organic and honest, thank you for noticing!